The introduction of social media has brought many benefits but has also amplified the thoughts and insecurities people face every day about their bodies. For some people, this includes the way their smile looks. When people are concerned with their smile to the point of extreme insecurity, it generally results in smile dysmorphia, a condition that can often lead to an unhealthy relationship with smiles and dentistry. In many ways, these unofficial conditions tend to be invisible to the naked eye but are very much prevalent in dentistry. Here’s a quick overview of this condition, what influences it, and how the dentist can help patients with severe insecurities treat their teeth. 

How Does Smile Dysmorphia Affect People in Dentistry? 

Today’s beauty culture promotes that everyone should look beautiful, even to the point of changing their bodies to appeal to current beauty standards. Selfies, beauty models, and even Instagram influencers tend to have an impact on people and their insecurities, with one of those insecurities being their smiles. The abundance of filters and the constant awareness social media brings often result in a warped sense of self-image for many people, and it can easily develop with someone’s smile. 

Smile dysmorphia is a coined term that describes deep insecurities about their smile to the point of obsessiveness. Regardless of the person’s health or the appearance of their teeth, many people end up comparing themselves to impossible standards only set by filters, and due to the influx of this insecurity, many people resort to going to the dentist to get cosmetic treatment.

What Cosmetic Treatments Work For Smile Insecurity

However, it’s important in these cases that treatments, even ones with an aesthetic focus, should only truly be used for maintaining proper dental health. Cosmetic dentists that focus on beauty will always consider the well-being of their patients before anything else, and in sensitive cases where the patient’s emotional health is wavering due to this insecurity, they may be rejected treatment. 

Although cases of smile dysmorphia can receive cosmetic dental treatment, only if they are aware that the treatments will only produce realistic results; these treatments include:

• Dental Whitening – If you suffer from discolored teeth, dental whitening can improve the color of your teeth by a couple of shades. 
• Gingival Contouring – Excess gum is removed to make the teeth more prominent, especially if the teeth appear very small. In these cases, gingival contouring can be very helpful. 
• Enamel Contouring – Instead of gum contouring, this treatment involves removing enamel from the teeth. It is often used when patients have excessively large or misshapen teeth. 

Your dentist can inform you if you have healthy, beautiful teeth, and if you’re struggling with smile dysmorphia, then make sure to reach out to them today for help.